Are you serious about your chosen sport or activity?
If you aren’t having regular sports massage then it’s quite likely that you are missing the chance to reach your peak.
How often are you sore for several days after a hard session?
Do you sometimes delay training or practice in favour of rest and recovery time?
Not only will massage increase your flexibility and therefore agility, it will greatly help in speeding your recovery from Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS). DOMS is felt as the tenderness in your muscles that comes on the day after or a few days after hardcore or unaccustomed activity.
When we push our muscles hard, we cause microscopic damage to the muscle tissue. A little bit of this is a good thing as it prompts our muscles to grow bigger and stronger. Sometimes the muscle can take a few days to recover and sometimes we push ourselves too hard and are sore for a week. This is where sports massage can be helpful and bring relief. If you are trying to excel in your sport or activity then it is important that you can train frequently. Massage reduces the severity and duration of DOMS, helps maintain flexibility and smoothness of muscle tissue and can also help to prevent injury.
Sports massage is appropriate for increasing performance regardless of your sport or activity. Whether it be Dancing, Bodybuilding, Walking, Martial Arts, Yoga, Pilates, Football, Cricket or something else, sports massage will make it easier. You’ll be able to increase your flexibility, reduce any pain, train and practice more, all of which will improve your power, form and therefore overall performance.
What’s involved in a sports massage?
It’s pretty similar to Remedial massage in that your therapist will discuss with you your sport and any areas of your body that you might be having trouble with. He or she will develop an understanding of the biomechanical stresses that are being placed on your body and will massage and manipulate appropriate areas to leave your muscles and tendons supple and ready for action. Techniques used will be types of kneading, deep strokes on varying angles, trigger point therapy and special stretches.
How many Sports Massage sessions will you need?
It really depends on you, the individual. Anything from once a month to once or twice a week.
Have a think about how much you like your sport or activity, whether you have any injuries holding you back and whether you want to be the absolute best you can be.